The RPG Podcast - What Is The True Definition of a Role-Playing Game?

May 20th, 2013, 16:49

Definition of a crpg - nothing easier than that:

A crpg is a computer game in which a player

1) can control 1 or more characters
2) gets experience by questing (exploring and combat)
3) by getting more experience you can level up your characters (skills, talents,…)
4) you can interact with the world, NPCs, factions
5) you can equip your characters with items you find, loot, shop for
6) a story is told - your actions and choices have consequences

Originally Posted by HiddenX
Definition of a crpg - nothing easier than that:

A crpg is a computer game in which a player

1) can control 1 or more characters
2) gets experience by questing (exploring and combat)
3) by getting more experience you can level up your characters (skills, talents,…)
4) you can interact with the world, NPCs, factions
5) you can equip your characters with items you find, loot, shop for
6) a story is told - your actions and choices have consequences

Originally Posted by Thrasher
I don't remember any sort of interaction with any NPCs. Not sure what you are referring too.

You have a researcher that asks you what to research and tells you and shows you details about what you've researched. You also encounter NPCs on missions that talk to you and which you have to bring back to your ship.

There are always borderline cases like Xcom, Nemesis: A Wizardry Adventure, System Shock 2.

But all games that fulfill

1) can control 1 or more characters
2) gets experience by questing (exploring and combat)
3) by getting more experience you can level up your characters (skills, talents,…)
4) you can interact with the world, NPCs, factions
5) you can equip your characters with items you find, loot, shop for
6) a story is told - your actions and choices have consequences

Well said. Some of those properties can be strong enough in a game that it is still classified an RPG but only has a proper subset of all 6. Grimrock for example, really has no story with choice and consequences, yet few would be silly enough to claim it is not an RPG, namely because of its strong classic party building, inventory, and leveling systems.